Due to the recent cold spell we have had the gas fire on and the table top has started splitting at the joint. It is only a couple of mm at the end closest to the fire and there is no other dramatic warping. It is a solid antique (1" think) that has lived in houses with central heating for many years, Though has probably not been exposed to such uneven temperatures before. Considering it's age is it likely to return to it's original state once it's removed from the current environment, or is there other action i should take (soaking the wood, filling the crack)?
Thanks in advance.

Richard M, January 2010

Just leave it and it will return to the way it was,it has dried out due to the heat in your room,move it away from direct heat and don't mess with it,it's natural wood that's what it does,if you want it stable buy a chipboard/mdf table.

Joiner, January 2010

Wood shrinks across the grain so a split in a table top will alsways be along the length of the grain. Most table tops are fitted so that the "plank" that forms the table top can shrink and expand as the environment changes - if the top is fixed too firmly to the base a crack may open up - sometimes in the glue line and sometimes in the grain itself.

To overcome this, makers use a form of fixing that allows some across-grain movement - Slotted brackets called Stretcher Plates are often used - just one elongated slot is used and its screw not done up too tightly - this stops the cracking... like the one in this picture...

http://www.kitchendoorcompany.co.uk/product-images/accessories/fullsize/stretcher-plate-angle-bracket.jpg


In the mean time move the table away from the fire - to a cooler room perhaps - maybe mist it a little to swell the wood fibres - the heat from the fire has very probably dried it out and the top is probably fitted too rigidly to the base
Good luck...

Peccavi, January 2010